Rear air deflector shield for cargo-style door vehicle

ABSTRACT

A rear air deflector is provided for vans, trucks, and sport utility vehicles having cargo doors which open side to side, and windows in the cargo doors. The deflector includes a pair of mirror image shield portions having outer ends which are secured to the window frame of the cargo doors with a bracket extending around the edge of the window. The inner ends of each shield portion are secured to the window frame with a stantion having a bracket extending over the top edge of the window for securement into the window frame. In an alternative embodiment, a unitary shield for use on vehicles having a swing-up rear door utilizes a single stantion pressfit with adhesive to the door window at the midpoint of the deflector, and mounting brackets at each end which wrap around the edge of the window for securement into the window frame.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of copending commonlyassigned application Ser. No. 912,325 filed Jul. 13, 1992 now U.S. Pat.No. 5,249,836 and entitled "Rear Air Deflector Shield", which itself isa continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/744,230 filed Aug. 13,1991, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rear air deflectors have been used for many years on motor vehicles suchas station wagons, vans and trucks that have a substantially verticalrear window. They are used to prevent dust and debris from accumulatingon the window. Conventional rear air deflectors are mounted above therear window using mounting brackets such that the upper edge of thedeflector resides above the roof line of the vehicle. Air is deflectedby the deflector downwardly over the rear window when the vehicle ismoving forwardly so as to keep the window free from dust and the like.

Rear air deflectors have become particularly useful and desirable forsport utility vehicles, station wagons, and other vehicles having anelongated cargo area that necessitates some sort of shield to keep therear windows clear of dirt, snow, slush and highway road film.

A co-pending, commonly assigned application of Stanesic, et al. entitledREAR AIR DEFLECTOR SHIELD, filed Jul. 13, 1992, Ser. No. 07/912,325 nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,249,839 relates to a rear air deflector of improvedconfiguration which is aerodynamically shaped to provide a shield thatis aesthetically pleasing and also a deflector which enhances airflowdownwardly over the rear window when the vehicle is moving forwardly soas to keep the window free from dust, debris, etc. The deflector of thatpresent application is of unitary construction. This is quitesatisfactory for vans and sport utility vehicles that have only a singlerear door. However, for vans, sport utility vehicles, etc. that havecargo doors which pivot about substantial vertical axes so as to opentoward each side of the vehicle, such a unitary construction as thatshown in the above-referred to parent application is not satisfactory.It is not satisfactory because the unitary construction rear deflectorwould hinder opening the doors along the center line. Thus, for vehicleshaving rear cargo doors with a split door design, the deflector designof the parent application is unsatisfactory.

As is apparent regardless of whether the van has split cargo style reardoors or a single rear door, there still is a need for keeping the rearwindow free from dust, debris, snow, rain, etc. This invention involvesa cargo door style deflector, as well as a deflector of unitary styleuseful for sport utility vehicles that have rear windows or doors thatpivot about a vertical axis to an open position. As seen, there is areal need for a rear air deflector that can be used with vehicles thathave cargo style doors; and also there is a need for a mounting systemfor vehicles that use rear open, swing-up windows or doors.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improvedrear air deflector having aerodynamic characteristics and which can beused with vehicles having split cargo style rear doors.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a rear airdeflector in two parts such that one part can be mounted on each rearcargo door in a manner that does not interfere with opening and closingof the rear cargo doors of a vehicle.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a rearair deflector with a bracket attachment design which allows mounting tothe edge of the door frame and having an associated stanchion ormounting pedestal which is mounted by pressure adhesive to the glass.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a rear airdeflector which is economical to manufacture, is composed of two partsto allow use with cargo style doors, which is easy to mount, does notinterfere with opening and closing of the cargo doors, and whichduplicates the aerodynamic and aesthetic characteristics of the unitaryrear air deflector of my parent application.

A yet further objective is to provide an alternate embodiment unitaryshield for mounting and use with utility vehicles having a swing-up rearwindow or door, that allows for high mounting that does not interferewith the window or door.

The method and means for accomplishing these and other objectives willbecome apparent from the detailed description of the invention whichfollows hereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A rear air deflector of two-part construction that comprises a firstelongated shield portion having opposite ends and a second elongatedshield portion having opposite ends with the outer end portions of thedeflector having a reverse curve profile. The deflector is mounted inspaced apart relationship from the rear window frame of the doors of acargo style rear door vehicle, substantially along the vehicle's lengthwith the outer end portions curved so as to be substantially parallelwith the window frame. The inner end of each of the two shield portionsare mounted to a stanchion or pedestal that is mounted to the windowframe. In this manner the two halves are each securely mounted to one ofthe rear cargo doors such that the doors may be opened and closedindividually without the rear deflector interfering. The end portions ofthe shield are secured directly to the frame. In an alternateembodiment, a unitary shield is stanchion mounted so as to not interferewith swing-up doors and windows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear end of a van or mini-van havingthe two-part rear air deflector of the present invention mountedthereon.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing one of the single stanchion mountstaken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the stanchion used with the two piecedeflector.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the bracket assembly used at the end 2 ofthe deflector.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the rear of a sport utility vehiclethat has a swing-up rear door with a unitary deflector.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end view taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the stanchion fasteningassembly taken along lines 11--11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the stanchionfastening assembly used to mount the unitary shield at its center to thevehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The two part rear air deflector of the present invention is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 10 in the drawings. The deflectorassembly 10 is designed for use on a vehicle 12, such as a van,mini-van, truck, station wagon or sport utility vehicle having asubstantially square rearward end defined by a roof 14 and a pair ofrear cargo doors 16, 18 each having an associated window frame 20, 22surrounding substantially vertical rear windows 24, 26.

The two part rear air deflector 10 is comprised of two shield portions28 and 30. The shield portions 28 and 30 have opposite terminal ends 32,opposite upper and lower edges 34 and 36, respectively, and oppositeforward and rear surfaces 38 and 40, respectively. In addition, shieldportions 28 and 30 have inner ends 42 which are mounted to stanchions 44and 46 as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. The stanchions are mountednear the upper top portion of rear windows 24 and 26.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the deflector is concave between the top andbottom edges 34 and 36 substantially along the length of the shield. Thetwo shield portions 28 and 30 taken together form a composite shieldstructure when the rear cargo doors 16 and 18 are closed. The shieldportions are mirror images of one another and easily pass each otherwithout interference as the doors swing open. The ends 48 of thedeflector adjacent to terminal ends 32 have a reverse curve profileincluding an inner concave section 50 curved forwardly from the mainbody of the deflector and an outer convex or flattened portion 52extending to the terminal ends 32 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6. Thisreverse curve profile allows the outer surface 40 to be substantiallyparallel with the window frames 22 and 24 so that the deflector 10matingly engages the frame adjacent to the opposite ends 48. Theterminal ends 32 are substantially perpendicular to the surface of thewindow frame. Concavity of the shield between its top and bottom edgesis eliminated at adjacent the ends 48 so that the ends present asubstantially flattened surface for engaging the frame 20 and 22.

A stanchion 44, 46 is mounted at the inner ends 42 of each shieldportion 28 and 30. As best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, stanchions 44and 46 have hollow interior for insertion of a bracket 60. Bracket 60has a stanchion insert member 62 with apertures 64 and a frame mountportion 66. The shield portions 28 and 30 are mounted to a respectivestanchion 44 or 46 and bracket 60 as illustrated via fasteners 53, whichinclude an expandable anchors 54, bolts 55 and head covers 56. Fasteners53 are commercially available from Pop Fasteners of Shelton, Conn. underthe trademark "WELLNUT". Screw fasteners 68 are used to mount thebracket end 66 to the top edge of the window frame 70, as illustrated inFIG. 4.

The details of mounting the outer ends 48 of the shield portions 28 and30 are best illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. At the outer ends 48, shieldportions 28 and 30 are mounted directly to the window frame 22 and 24for each of the cargo doors 16 and 18 using a plurality of fasteners 72.Each fastener 72 includes a bolt 71 having a head 73 and a shaft 74, anda threaded nut 76, as best seen in FIG. 6. Nut 76 is pressed into ametal bracket 78, having a protective cushion 79 made of rubber or thelike, as seen in FIG. 6. A cover 75 is provided for enclosing the head73 of bolt 71. Such covers are commercially available and described inU.S. Pat. No. 3,930,432 from Prodeck Products Inc. in Stratford, Tex.under the trademark "SNAPCAPS".

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 the outer ends 48 of shield portions 28and 30 are mounted using brackets 78 to the window frame 20 and 22 ofeach cargo door 16 and 18. Brackets 78 are mounted by screw fasteners 82and associated gasket washers 84 to the door frame as illustrated inFIG. 7 so that the shield portions 28 and 30 are secured to the frame attheir outer ends 48.

For the unitary deflector 88 shown in FIGS. 8-12, a single stanchion 90is used. Pressure sensitive adhesive 92 mounts the stanchion 90 to theupper portion of glasses 24 and 26 of rear cargo doors 20 and 22. Suchpressure sensitive adhesives are well known and commonly available inthe automotive accessive industry and used for attaching moldings, etc.Suppliers for example include 3M of St. Paul, Minn. Conventionalself-clenching Wellnut (TM) fasteners 53 having a bolt 52, an expandableanchor 54 and a nut cover 56 are used to mount the central portion 93 ofthe unitary deflector 88 to stanchion 90. The opposite ends 94 of thedeflector 88 are mounted to the frame with brackets 78, as describedabove for the two piece deflector.

In the installation process, brackets 78 are first positioned at thecorrect vertical location to the door frame. Shield portions 28 and 30are then aligned for the correct position of stanchions 44, 46.Stanchions 44, 46 are then fit to the frame with brackets 60 for thedesired level location. Thereafter the outer ends 48 are mounted usingbrackets 78 as previously described (FIG. 6). After mounting, the cargodoors 16 and 18 can be conveniently opened and closed without thedeflector interfering with the use of the cargo doors. On the road theunit operates to deflect air in the same manner as a unitary structurerear deflector.

In the swing-up rear window system using the unitary shield 88, a singlestation 90 is mounted to the window using adhesive 92, as illustrated inFIGS. 11 and 12, and the outer ends 94 are mounted with brackets 78, asearlier described for FIGS. 6 and 7. Because of the mounting system theunit does not interfere with the swing-up rear window or door.

It therefore can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all ofits stated objectives.

What is claimed:
 1. A two part rear air deflector for vehicles such asautomobiles, vans and trucks having a roof and rear cargo doors and arear window and a window frame extending around the window for each ofsaid cargo doors, said two part deflector comprising:a pair of elongatedshield portions each having opposite inner and outer ends, oppositeupper and lower edges and opposite forward and rearward surfaces; theshield portions each having a reverse curve profile adjacent each outerend such that the forward surface of the shield portion adjacent eachouter end is substantially parallel to the window frame so as to providemating engagement between the forward surface of the shield portionadjacent to the outer ends and the window frame; a fastening stanchionassociated with each inner end of each shield portion for attachment ofeach inner end to each of said cargo doors adjacent the inner ends; andfastening means extending through the shield portions and to the windowframe for securing the outer ends of the shield portions to the vehicle.2. The deflector of claim 1 wherein the stanchion includes a bracket formounting the stanchion to the window frame.
 3. The deflector of claim 2wherein the fastening stanchion includes a bracket for mounting thestanchion to the door.
 4. The deflector of claim 3 wherein the bracketextends around an edge of the window for securement to the window frame.5. The deflector of claim 1 wherein the shield portions are mirrorimages of one another.
 6. The deflector of claim 1 wherein the shieldportions have a concave dimension across their exterior surface,transverse to their longitudinal axis.